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Rockland County, NY – Appraiser For Yeshiva In Controversial Sale Of East Ramapo School Arraigned On Charges

August 1, 2013

Rockland County, NY – The appraiser in the controversial sale of an East Ramapo school to a Jewish congregation was arraigned Wednesday in Clarkstown Justice Court on two felony counts of grand larceny and filing a false instrument.

LOHUD.com (http://lohud.us/1bNsrtx) reports that charges against 57 year-old, Avi M. Vardi, who provided the appraisal used by the East Ramapo Board of Education in selling the Hillcrest building to Congregation Avir Yakov, were brought as part of an ongoing investigation by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office that began over 18 months ago.

According to court documents, Vardi, who at the time was an owner of Pasippany New York’s The Appraisal Group, provided the East Ramapo Board of Education in 2010 with an appraisal for the Hillcrest building that came in some $2.66M below fair market value.

Vardi, along with two others who the AG’s office has yet to identify, appraised the building for $3.2M, while a comparable appraisal provided for the AG’s office by Variation Plus Inc., out of Mamaroneck, placed a value of $5.9M on the property.

Court papers also state that, at Vardi’s request, the district paid him $3,500 for “acting on the false understanding” that he had delivered an “independent appraisal,” and that Vardi also walked away with a payment of $5,000 from Congregation Avir Yakov.

Vardi was released on personal recognizance, and is due back in court October 23rd.

One Comment »

Personally I think this corrupt county of Rockland should get all their facts straight before reporting. A person I believe is innocent until proven guilty and according to this per say “witch hunt”..Mr Vardi is guilty without hearing any of the facts behind the case…You state “Vardi along with two others who have yet to be identified”…Have they been prosecuted in the paper? Have their names appeared anywhere? The district paid a fee of 3,500…where..and I have searched and searched…does it say anywhere that another 5,000 was presented? Does it say that Mr Vardi passed a lie detector test proving his innocence…does it state Mr Vardi was not the actual person who appraised the property…does it state anywhere that Mr Vardi was unrepresented by council when interrogated by the courts…..is this a felony or a misdemeanor? If the man didn’t speak Hebrew or have the name Avi…would this be a case? This reporting in Rockland County has to be verified before throwing someone to the wolves…There were individuals calling themselves Devorah, Ramapo Rob and Monsey Luke who because the man was born in Israel…was assumed in collusion with the school….such a shame we have to live like this and someone who may be innocent has to suffer such prejudice…a true sad witch hunt for this man.